There’s something magical about Peter Reynolds’ books. It’s not only his whimsical watercolor illustrations, but it’s the way that we walk away from reading them – changed. One of them, “The Dot”, speaks so much to all of us – and how hard it is to get that first brave mark down on paper. It’s no wonder that so many art teachers and homeschoolers celebrate it every year with International Dot Day art projects.
This September 15, if you’d like to celebrate making a single mark, keep scrolling. Inside the International Dot Day Idea pack are ideas for artists, displays, and how to turn those dots into a delicious, larger-than-life cupcake.
Small dots
One way to have fun with dots is using them instead of coloring in a picture. Posca pens make great dotters – as do bingo daubers. Kids can experiment with how to get a small dot or a large dot. Instead of coloring from side to side, use dots to color in larger areas.
To drive home the learning, show kids one of Seurat’s paintings. Does it look like it all started with a dot?
Then ask them how many dots they think need to happen before the dots start to blend together as a solid color? This Pointillism Zebra is in The Glitter Bomb – Impressionism bundle, available to Glitterbombers Members.
Large dots
Sometimes one of the most beautiful ways to experience a dot is with wet-on-wet watercolor painting.
Kids find it magical when they paint a dot full of water and then drop dots of paint inside it, and see it spread out and flow.
Kids can turn these magical dots into sea urchins in our FREE Tide Pools bundle. Not only do they create a larger dot, but then they use smaller dots on top. There’s something fun about the look on kids’ faces when they realize that the watercolors just…stop.
Delicious dots
Sometimes you may just want to eat your dots in the form of sprinkles.
In this project, students create their dots and then turn them into a cupcake with a silly face, arms, and legs – it’s the perfect way to make it a Delectable Dot Day. And can you imagine having an entire hallway full of delicious polka dotted baked goods?
Yum.
To download more ideas for International Dot Day Art Projects, click on the banner below. Inside is a step-by-step Polka Dotted Cupcake art project and other fun ways to create and display your dotted artwork.
We’d love to see what you create! If you create any dot day art projects that we suggested, please tag us at @soulsparklettes and also @peterreynolds – the author and illustrator who inspired International Dot Day!
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